DU relaxes promotion criteria for 2025-26 batch; teachers question timing and transparency
The University of Delhi has relaxed its promotion criteria for students of the 2025-26 academic batch as a one-time measure, allowing them to progress without securing the prescribed 28 credits out of 44 after completing their first year.The decision, communicated through a notification issued by the Controller of Examinations on October 1, has triggered questions from sections of the faculty over the rationale and timing of the move. Teachers have particularly questioned why the criteria were changed after students had already entered the third semester.
DU exempts 2025-26 batch from 28-credit requirement
Under the revised provision, students belonging to the 2025-26 batch who have completed one year of study will be exempted from the requirement of obtaining 28 credits out of 44 for promotion.The university has clarified that the relaxation is applicable only to the 2025-26 batch and is being introduced as a one-time measure.The notification further stated that all other provisions contained in earlier notifications would remain unchanged. According to the university, the decision was taken after approval from the competent authority.The move effectively changes the qualifying requirement for students of the particular batch without altering the other promotion rules.
DU teachers question timing of decision
While the university has issued the relaxation as a specific measure for the 2025-26 batch, teachers have raised questions over why the decision was taken at this stage of the academic year.Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Delhi University Teachers’ Federation (DTF) and associate professor at Miranda House, questioned the basis for reducing the qualifying requirement. She said the university had not specified the circumstances or hardships that led to the exemption.Habib also questioned whether a large number of students had been unable to meet the existing promotion criteria and whether the relaxation was introduced in response to that situation.She further raised concerns about what she described as the possibility of selective benefit, referring to earlier instances in which academic qualification requirements were modified.
Third semester had already begun
A major concern raised by the teachers relates to the timing of the notification.According to Habib, classes for the third semester began on July 28, while examination results continued to be declared through August. She questioned whether promotion criteria should be altered after students had already progressed to the next semester.The issue, she said, raises broader questions about predictability and consistency in the university’s examination system.“Transparency and stability of the examination system is an important aspect for a good university. DU is being systemically damaged,” Habib said.
Faculty raises questions over NEP implementation
Rudrashish Chakraborty, DTF treasurer, associate professor in the Department of English at Kirori Mal College and a former member of the university’s Academic Council, also questioned the decision.Chakraborty linked the notification to the challenges of managing the growing number of papers under the National Education Policy (NEP). He alleged that the development reflected shortcomings in the administration of the expanded academic structure and raised questions over the manner in which the policy was being implemented.The university’s notification, however, does not cite any specific student-level circumstances or academic difficulties behind the one-time relaxation. It states that the exemption was approved by the competent authority and that other existing rules remain unchanged.
What the DU decision means for students
For students of the 2025-26 batch, the immediate impact is a relaxation of the credit requirement for promotion after the first year. Students covered by the notification will not be required to meet the earlier threshold of 28 credits out of 44 for the purpose specified in the order.The exemption is limited to the 2025-26 batch and has not been announced as a permanent change to DU’s promotion rules.The controversy, therefore, centres less on the revised requirement itself and more on the timing, stated rationale and consistency of the decision. Faculty members have sought greater clarity on why the criteria were changed after the academic session had already progressed into its third semester.(With inputs from PTI)
